About the Book

The first volume of this History begins with an introductory section dealing with certain general topics bearing upon the history of India as a whole.

Although dealing with the Vedic age, it gives the necessary geological, geographical and biological background before proceeding to the first state of human activity in India.

he third section is devoted to a general consideration of the Indo-Aryans; the fourth deals with the political history of the period and the remaining sections, social and economic conditions, and Religion and philosophy.

In short, this volume covers, what may be regarded as, the down of Hindu Civilization.

This is the first history of India written exclusively by her own people which brings to bear on the problems a detached and critical appreciation. A team of over sixty scholars of repute present herein a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the political, socio-economic and cultural history of the Indian people.

Contents

Book A : INTRODUCTION :
I INDIAN HISTORY, ITS NATURE, SCOPE AND METHOD/R C Majumdar, M APh D F R A S B Formerly Vice-Chancellor and Professor of History in the University of Dacca
II SOURCES OF INDIAN HISTORY/R C Majumdar :
1 Ancient Period :
i Literary Sources
ii Archaeology :
a Inscriptions
b Numismatics
c Monuments)

IV THE GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF INDIAN HISTORY/D N Wadia, M A B Sc F G S F R G S F R A S B F N I Special Adviser to the Government of India :
1 The Setting of the Stage for Early Man in India
2 The Indo-Gangetic Alluvium of the Plains of North India
3 Human cave-dwellers of India : Their animal contemporaries
4 Laterite cap of the Peninsula and Soil Deposits
5 Changes in the River Systems of North India during the human epoch
6 The Great Prehistoric River of Northern India
7 The Deserts of Western India : The Rann of Cutch
8 The Meteorological influence of the Himalaya Mountains
9 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
10 Late earth-movements and local Alterations of level

V THE GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND OF INDIAN HISTORY/R C Majumdar :
1 Physical Features :
i The great Mountain wall
ii The Plain of Hindustan

iii The Plateau :
a The Deccan Plateau
b The Coastal Region
c The Central Indian Plateau)

2 Influence of Geography upon History Division into several political and cultural units India, a distinct geographical unit Effect of physical features Indian Colonization Effect of climate

Book B : THE PREHISTORIC AGE :
VII PALAEOLITHIC, NEOLITHIC AND COPPER AGES/H D Sankalia, M A LL B PH D, (LONDON) Professor of History in the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Poona :
1 Palaeolithic Age :
i First Inter-Glacial Age
ii Second Inter-Glacial Age and Early Soan Industry
iii Third Ice Age and Late Soan Industry
iv Third Inter-Glacial Age; Chauntra Industry
v Fourth Ice Age Tools)

2 Mesolithic Age
3 Neolithic Age
4 Copper and Bronze Age
5 Iron Age

VIII RACE-MOVEMENTS AND PREHISTORIC CULTURE/S K Chatterji M A D Litt (LONDON), F R A S B Khaira Professor of Indian Linguistics and Phonetics in the University of Calcutta

Six main races with sub-types Evolution of Common Indian Culture Contribution of (a) the Negroid or Negrito, (b) the Proto-Australoids, (c) Dra-vidian-speakers Synthesis of the Aryan and non-Aryan Culture

Book C : THE ARYANS IN INDIA :
X THE ARYAN PROBLEM/B K Ghosh D Phil (MUNICH), D LITT (PARIS) Lecturer in Philology in the University of Calcutta Original home of the Indo-Europeans Earliest trace of the Indo'-Iranians Lithuanian, the most archaic of Indo-European Languages No case for original home in Europe Scandinavia not the original home Tripolje culture Brandenstein's theory of the Original Home Relation between Indo-Euro pean and non-Indo-European languages Appendix-India, the original home of the Aryans by S Srikanta Sastri, Professor Maharaja's College, Mysore

X INDO-IRANIAN RELATIONS/B K Ghosh :Cleavage between the Aryans of India and Iran Antagonism between the Worshippers of Daiva-gods and Asura-gods Reforms of Zarathustra Pre Zarathustra Iranian Culture essentially the same as Vedic

XIII ARYAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA/A D Pusalker :
1 Geographical Names in the Rigveda
2 The Tribes in the Rigveda
3 The Period of the Later Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads and Sutras :
i Geographical Names
ii The Tribes)

Book D : HISTORICAL TRADITIONS :
XIV TRADITIONAL HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE ACCESSION OF PARLKSHIT/A D Pusalker :
1 Sources of Information
2 Chronological Scheme of Traditional History according to the Puranas
3 Pre-Flood Traditions and Dawn of History
4 Flood and Manu Vaivasvata c 3100 B C

XIX SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS/V M Apte :
1 Social Condition :
i Family Life
ii The Caste System
iii Marriage and the Position of Women
iv Education
v Amusements and Entertainments
vi Food and Drink
vii Dress and Decoration
viii Knowledge of Medicine and Sanitation)

Book F : THE AGE OF THE LATER SAMHITAS :
XX LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/B K Ghosh (Section 4 by V M Apte) :
1 The Language of the Saihhitas :
i Samaveda
ii Yajurveda
iii Atharvaveda)

2 The Samhita Literature :
i Atharvaveda, Arrogance of the Brahmanas, Coronation hymn, Bhumi-sukta, the National Anthem of Vedic India, Magic and Charms, Hymn to Varuna
ii Yajurveda)

3 The Brahmanas :
i Language
ii Literature)

4 The Aranyakas

XXI POLITICAL AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS/V M Apte :
1 Political Theory (Origin of Kingship Growth of royal power Sabha and Samiti)
2 Administrative Organization (Royal Officials Taxation)
3 Law and Legal Institutions (Evidence Criminal law Civil law Civil procedure Ownership of Land)

XXII RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY/V M Apte :
1 Atharvaveda (Magic Formulae Philosophical hymns)
2 The Samaveda and the Yajurveda Saihhitas and the Brahmanas (Grand Sacrifices Groups of priests The Gods Ethical Ideas The conception of Heaven and Hell The Circuit of Birth and Death)
3 The Aranyakas

XXIII SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS/V M Apte :
1 Social Condition :
i Family Life
ii The Caste System
iii Marriage and the Position of Women
iv Education
v Amusements and Entertainments
vi Food and Drink
vii Dress and Decoration
viii Knowledge of Medicine)

XXV POLITICAL AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS/V M Apte :
1 Political Theory (Principle of Dharma Life and duty of king Position of the Brahmana in the State Parishad)
2 Administrative Organization (Taxation Village)
3 Law and Legal Institutions (Beginnings of Civil and Criminal Law Judicial tribunals Punishments Rules of Inheritance Title to Property Rate of Interest)

XXVI RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY/V M Apte :
1 The Upanishads (Protest Against Ritual Identity of Brahman and Atman Prana The transmigration of the soul Ethical concepts Fundamental doctrines)
2 The Sutras (The Srauta sacrifices The Grihya ritual Meaning and nature of sacrifice- Different classes of priests Magic and rituals Ethical concepts)

XXVII SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS/V M Apte :
1 Social Condition :
i Family Life
ii The Caste System
iii Marriage and the Position of Women
iv Education
v Manners and Morals, Habits and Customs
vi Amusements and Entertainments
vii Food and Drink
viii Dress and Decoration
ix Health and Hygiene)